Chemical Peel Aftercare: What to Do (and Avoid) During Week 1 for a Peeling Chemical Peel

I hear it all the time: you come in for a peel because you want real change, but you also want to feel calm and cared for while it happens. That comfort matters. Now, the single most important rule in week 1 is simple: protect your skin from sun and heat like it’s your job. For the first 48 hours especially, keep skin clean and hydrated, skip workouts and hot showers, avoid makeup and actives, and do not pick at peeling.

First 24 to 48 hours: the rules that save your result

Right after a chemical peel, your skin is doing exactly what you hired it to do: shedding older, dull surface cells so newer skin can show up. In those first 24 to 48 hours, I generally recommend you keep things boring and gentle.

Do this instead

• Cleanse gently twice a day with a mild, non-scrubby cleanser. No brushes, no washcloth “polishing.”
• Moisturize with a fragrance-free moisturizer as often as you need to feel comfortable.
• SPF every morning, broad-spectrum, and reapply if you’re outside. Los Gatos sun is sneaky, even for a quick coffee run near the Town Plaza.

If you commute and you’re worried about heat and sweating (yes, even that Highway 17 backup), keep your car cooler, avoid blasting the heater at your face, and don’t sit in direct sun through the windshield if you can help it.

Days 3 to 7: when peeling starts, don’t “help” it along

Most people move through a pretty predictable timeline: redness or warmth first, then tightness, then flaking or peeling. Peeling often shows up somewhere in the 3 to 7 day window. The biggest mistake I see is picking at the skin because it looks uneven. I get it. But picking can leave you irritated and blotchy, and it can drag out recovery.

If you’re fitting aftercare into a Downtown Los Gatos schedule, this is the week to keep plans simple. Run your errands on North Santa Cruz Avenue, grab lunch, and keep your face shaded. Your future glow depends on it.

Products that play nice with a chemical peel (and the ones to pause)

Week 1 is not the week for “power products.” I keep your routine focused on three things: cleanse, moisturize, protect.

• Use: gentle cleanser, fragrance-free moisturizer, broad-spectrum SPF.
• Pause: retinoids, AHAs/BHAs, strong vitamin C, exfoliating toners, and anything that stings when you apply it.
• Makeup: I usually recommend waiting until peeling calms down. If you do wear makeup, keep it light and stop if your skin starts feeling tight or itchy.

I see clients across Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, Campbell, San Jose, and Cupertino. The advice stays the same, but sun exposure changes everything. Our Mediterranean climate means even short outdoor moments add up fast, so don’t treat SPF like an optional step.

When to reach out to me (and what I want you to tell me)

A little redness and flaking is part of the deal. But if something feels off, I want to know early. Reach out if you have increasing pain, spreading redness, pus, fever, or anything that looks like infection. Also reach out if you’re unsure about restarting actives. I’d rather answer a “quick question” than have you guess and end up irritated.

“She’s also available 24/7 for any questions that arise, and I have taken advantage of that when living away from the bay (thank you for always responding rapidly and with amazing detailed info Erin!!).”

one of our regulars

Quick reminder: A Chemical Peel uses a solution to exfoliate the skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and acne scars. This rejuvenating treatment takes about 45 minutes.